Driven to Grow
I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It's all a question of how I view my life. - Paulo Coelho
A lot of excited colleagues have been emailing around Paul Graham’s How to Do Great Work. Former Feds will find little new here. A more compelling piece, and useful for a USG-to-tech career transition, is What is Growth?
Growth therefore is winning against entropy. If you agree with me, then you’ll also understand that it is only a temporary gain. No company survives forever and neither will you or I. However, paradoxically it’s the only meaningful approach to life. Choose decay, choose treading water or choose growth. At least with growth you can leave something behind for future generations. However - it’s the hard path, not the easy life.
Leaving behind the comforts of federal service is hard. Doing something more on the outside than contracting back to the government makes the process harder.
Success comes from overcoming these difficulties. It also arises from choosing to take on challenges rather than resting on one’s laurels.
Staying put is easy. Nothing will ever change by remaining in the same milieu.
The path isn’t one that suddenly ends in celebratory fireworks. Periodic progress is the primary mile marker. Continued grit is another sign you’re achieving your goals.
Realizing how hard you’re working encourages you not to settle. It pushes you to strive for roles that match your expectations. You won’t sell yourself short.
Conversely, those who sit still become bored and unchallenged. This leads to a lack of motivation and a feeling of stagnation. Sooner or later, a government career ends. Even for those retiring, there will still be a need and a desire to work. The absence of growth will limit competitiveness in a fierce job market.
Embrace the unknown now, take calculated risks, and don't be afraid to fail. With perseverance, determination, and a growth mindset, you can succeed in your new career path.